FolksI plan to upgrade my config.I currently have a Socket 754 MB and plan to buy one of these dual channel memory AMD 64+ for socket 939.I have 2 WD Raptors in RAID O config.Since the old and the new MB have basically the same chipset, do I have to re-install XP when I exchange the MB ? Does the new MB recognize the current RAID 0 setup ?I would like to avoid a complete re-install. Since the current system is my first RAID setup, I have no experience with such upgrades.Thanks a lotTSE

Generally, you could change motherboards and have Windows try to adjust to the new MB, CPU, etc. However, I think it is not going to optimize properly.You are assuming that the new MB has the same controller chips for RAID. It may or may not be the case. I don't know if one RAID controller writes something to the hardrive specific to that RAID controller or not.My vote is to redo the installation from scratch.W. Sieffert

In all likelihood, XP will not be happy about the upgrade :). But you can do a repair install, which means all your programs will still be running. But before you start, I recommend you download the full version of SP2 here: and burn it to CD. Make sure you're not connected to the internet while installing XP and the service pack.Cheers,Gosta.[link:www.hifisim.com/images]http://www.hifisim.com/images/as2betateam.jpg

I am going to wager - strongly - that the new motherboard will NOT recognize the RAID-0 as it is on your existing computer.Unless the two boards have the IDENTICAL hardware RAID controllers, you will run into a situation whereby the new board will not know anything about what the old board was writing. Often times mobo manuacturers will switch out the hardware controllers, while leaving the other parts of the chipset identical. The only times where i've seen a consistant chipset is in Intel-based boards, where the Intel chipset itself is being used. I would make sure that you had a full and complete backup of your critical data and programs as possible before beginning. Even if the drive data is recognized by the new motherboard, Windows may throw a fit relating to the hardware drivers. When I installed my RAID system, I had to reinstall XP and use a floppy disc with the controller's driver on it before XP would install. If the RAID controller on your new board is new/different than the one being used now, XP could pitch a fit and bluescreen on bootup due to invalid drivers - then the repair install would need to happen.Repeating - I would make sure that you had a full and complete backup of your critical data and programs as possible before beginning. Personally, I always reinstall Windows whenever I make a major hardware installation - heck, i reinstalled Windows when the MSFS2004 patch came out! I have all my critical apps backed up, and every time I boot up my system dumps all important changed files (My Docs, my Internet directory for email and news, etc. etc.) to an external USB hard drive. This quick process works in the background and I have a perpetually updated backup of my important data. If I know I am going to be reinstalling, I just manually run the task, shut the system down gracefully when it's done, and take the digital sledgehammer to the drive! :) Repeating again - I would make sure that you had a full and complete backup of your critical data and programs as possible before beginning. RAID is a different animal than other things. Unless identical controllers are used, you run a risk of incompatability between RAID controllers - it's not like the IDE standard. Proceed with caution, and I'd bet a 6-pack that your new board won't even see the RAID array. Good luck!-Greg

Thanks a lot to everyone for the information.The RAID controllers are identical (VIA VT8237).Sound like a re-install is the better option thoughThanks a lot